Apparatus and method for hydraulically actuating a downhole device from a remote location

Abstract

An apparatus ( 100 ) for actuating a hydraulically controllable device ( 102 ) disposed in a wellbore is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises a downhole hydraulic fluid source ( 134 ), a hydraulic fluid passageway ( 136 ) providing a communication path between the downhole hydraulic fluid source ( 134 ) and the hydraulically controllable device ( 102 ), a valve ( 144 ) disposed within the hydraulic fluid passageway ( 136 ) and a downhole electronics package ( 138 ). The downhole electronics package ( 138 ) receives a signal from the surface to operate the valve ( 144 ) from the closed position to the open position such that hydraulic pressure from the downhole hydraulic fluid source ( 134 ) actuates the hydraulically controllable device ( 102 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for actuating a downhole device comprising the steps of: 
       sending a signal to a downhole electronics package;  
       establishing a communication path between a self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source and the downhole device in response to the signal;  
       transmitting a hydraulic from the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source to the downhole device through the communication path by utilizing hydrostatic pressure from an annulus surrounding the downhole device to urge the hydraulic fluid from the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source to the downhole device; and  
       actuating the downhole device in response to the hydraulic fluid.  
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of transmitting the hydraulic fluid further comprises the step of operating a valve from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of sending the signal to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending a signal from a surface installation. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of sending the signal to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending an acoustic signal. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of sending the signal to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending a pressure pulse signal. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of sending the signal to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending an electromagnetic signal. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of actuating the downhole device further comprises setting the downhole device. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the downhole device is a packer assembly. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of actuating the downhole device further comprises manipulating the downhole device. 
     
     
       10. A method for hydraulically actuating a downhole device from a remote location comprising the steps of: 
       sending a signal from a surface installation to a downhole electronics package;  
       establishing a communication path between a self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source and the downhole device in response to the signal; and  
       urging hydraulic fluid from the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source to the downhole device in response to hydrostatic pressure from an annulus surrounding the downhole device and simultaneously compressing a compressible fluid in a compressible fluid chamber to dampen the response to the hydrostatic pressure, thereby hydraulically actuating the downhole device.  
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the step of sending the signal from the surface installation to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending an acoustic signal. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the step of sending the signal from the surface installation to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending a pressure pulse signal. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the step of sending the signal from the surface installation to the downhole electronics package further comprises sending an electromagnetic signal. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the step of establishing the communication path between the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source and the downhole device further comprises operating a valve from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the step of actuating the downhole device further comprises setting the downhole device. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the downhole device is a packer assembly. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for actuating a hydraulically controllable device disposed in a wellbore comprising: 
       a self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source storing hydraulic fluid proximate the hydraulically controllable device;  
       a hydraulic fluid passageway providing a communication path between the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source and the hydraulically controllable device;  
       a valve disposed within the hydraulic fluid passageway; and  
       a downhole electronics package receiving a signal from the surface to operate the valve from a closed position to an open position to allow transmission of the hydraulic fluid from the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source to the hydraulically controllable device by utilizing hydrostatic pressure from an annulus surrounding the hydraulically controllable device to urge the hydraulic fluid from the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source to the hydraulically controllable device and thereby actuating the hydraulically controllable device.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein the hydraulic fluid source further comprises a housing and a sleeve slidably disposed about the housing, the sleeve and the housing defining a hydraulic fluid chamber therebetween having the hydraulic fluid contained therein, the sleeve operating from a first position to a second position relative to the housing in response to hydrostatic pressure once the valve is operated from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as recited in  claim 18  wherein the sleeve and the housing further define an air chamber therebetween having air contained therein. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises an acoustic transducer. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises a pressure pulse transducer. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises an electromagnetic transducer. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises a battery pack. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein the hydraulically controllable device is a packer assembly. 
     
     
       25. A well service apparatus comprising, in combination: 
       a hydraulically controllable device;  
       a self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source operably associated with the hydraulically controllable device including a housing and a sleeve slidably disposed about the housing that define a hydraulic fluid chamber therebetween which initially contains a compressible fluid therein;  
       a hydraulic fluid passageway providing a communication path between the self-contained downhole hydraulic fluid source and the hydraulically controllable device;  
       a valve disposed within the hydraulic fluid passageway, the valve having open and closed positions; and  
       a downhole electronics package receiving a signal from the surface to operate the valve from the closed position to the open position allowing the sleeve to operate from a first position to a second position relative to the housing in response to hydrostatic pressure from an annulus surrounding the well service apparatus such that the compressible fluid in the compressible fluid chamber is compressed to dampen the movement of the sleeve from the first to the second position and, simultaneously, the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid chamber is urged from the self-contained downhole hydraulic source to the hydraulically controllable device, thereby actuating the hydraulically controllable device.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus as recited in  claim 25  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises an acoustic transducer. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus as recited in  claim 25  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises a pressure pulse transducer. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus as recited in  claim 25  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises an electromagnetic transducer. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus as recited in  claim 25  wherein the downhole electronics package further comprises a battery pack. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus as recited in  claim 25  wherein the hydraulically controllable device is a packer assembly.